Shelf shipping clip

ABSTRACT

A shipping clip is configured to secure at least one shelf within a cabinet having walls and a base. The shipping clip includes a main beam having first and second side, and a biasing tab outwardly extending from the first side at an angle. The biasing tab is configured to exert a force into the shelf to compressively secure the shelf within the cabinet during shipping.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application relates to and claims priority benefits from U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 60/726,358 entitled “Shelf ShippingClip,” filed Oct. 13, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference inits entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to shipping clips,and more particularly to shipping clips for shelves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various cabinets and bookcases include a plurality of shelves that maybe secured within the cabinets and bookcases through a plurality ofpins. FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a conventional shelf pin10 secured within a cabinet wall 12. The shelf pin 10 includes a post ortab (not shown) removably secured within a reciprocal securing opening(not shown) within the cabinet wall 12. A shelf support beam 14 having aflat surface 16 extends outwardly from the cabinet wall 12. Typically,two shelf pins 10 are spaced apart from one another on a cabinet wall12. Further, each lateral cabinet wall 12 may include two spaced apartshelf pins 10 secured therein. Thus, a shelf may be supported by fourcoplanar shelf pins 10.

After a cabinet, for example, is manufactured, it is shipped to adistributor, retailer, or customer. Because the shelves may not bepermanently secured within the cabinet, the manufacturer typicallyensures that the shelves are safely shipped. For example, the cabinetand shelves may be separately shipped so that the shelves do not shiftabout the cabinet during shipping. However, separately shipping theshelves and cabinet increases the costs of shipping, because twoseparate packing assemblies are shipped. In order to minimize shippingcosts, some cabinets are shipped with the shelves temporarily securedtherein.

FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of a shelf 18 secured between aconventional shipping clip 20 and the shelf pin 10. As shown in FIG. 2,the shelf pin 10 is secured to the cabinet wall 12 and supports theshelf 18. The shipping clip 20 includes a triangular main body 22, withan upper apex 24 having a securing post (not shown) secured within asecuring hole (not shown) of the cabinet wall 12. A base 26 of the mainbody 22 is biased into the shelf 18. Thus, the shelf 18 is securedbetween the shelf pin 10 and the shipping clip 20. The cabinet may thenbe shipped with the shelves 18 secured therein.

FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric view of the shipping clip 20. As shownin FIG. 3, the apex 24 of the triangular main body 22 is secured to thecabinet wall 12, while the base 26 is biased into the top surface of theshelf 18. Thus, the shipping clip 20 and the shelf pin (shown in FIGS. 1and 2) cooperate to secure the shelf 18 in place during shipping,thereby preventing the shelf from moving within the cabinet.

FIG. 4 illustrates an isometric view of a shipping clip 30. The shippingclip 30 includes a triangular main body 32 with a post 34 removablysecured within a securing hole 36 formed through the cabinet wall 12. Asshown in FIG. 4, the shipping clip 30 is longer than the shipping clip20.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the shipping clips 20 and 30 are configuredto secure only one shelf between their respective bases and the shelfpins 10 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). In order to secure multiple shelves18, each shelf 18 is secured between one set of shipping clips 20 or 30,and one set of shelf pins 10. For example, in order to secure twoshelves 18 during shipping, four shelf pins 10 and four shipping clips20 or 30 are used to secure the first shelf 18, while four additionalshelf pins 10 and four additional shipping clips 20 or 30 are used tosecure the second shelf 18. Further, while the clips and pins minimizevertical shifting of the shelves, the shelves 18 may slide, rattle, orotherwise move laterally during shipping. As such, the shelves 18 andcabinet walls may be susceptible to scratching or other such damageduring shipping.

Thus, a need exists for a shipping clip capable of securing a pluralityof shelves during shipping. Additionally, a need exists for a shippingclip that prevents the shelves from banging into cabinet walls duringshipping.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Certain Embodiments of the present invention provide a shipping clipconfigured to secure at least one shelf within a cabinet having wallsand a base. The shipping clip may include a beam having a shelf side anda cabinet-abutting side, and a resilient biasing tab outwardly extendingproximate a mid-section of said shelf side at an angle. The biasing tabis configured to exert a force into the at least one shelf tocompressively secure the at least one shelf within the cabinet duringshipping.

The biasing tab may include an extension tab integrally connected to ablunted shelf-abutting end, wherein the blunted shelf-abutting end isconfigured to abut against a top surface of the at least one shelf.

The shipping clip may also include a cabinet securing post extendingfrom the cabinet-abutting side, wherein the cabinet securing post isconfigured to be retained within a reciprocal opening formed in at leastone of the walls of the cabinet.

Additionally, a grasping handle may extend from an upper portion of theshelf side. The grasping handle may include a fin extending from theshelf side, and a cylindrical post integrally connected to the fin.

Further, a shelf-stabilizing ramp may extend from the shelf side belowthe biasing tab. The shelf-stabilizing ramp may be configured to abutagainst a top surface of the at least one shelf.

A shim may extend from the beam and be configured to be positionedbetween the at least one shelf and at least one of the walls of thecabinet. The shim is configured to prevent lateral shifting of the atleast one shelf within the cabinet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional shelf pin secured within a cabinetwall.

FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of a shelf secured between aconventional shipping clip and shelf pin.

FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric view of a shipping clip.

FIG. 4 illustrates an isometric view of a shipping clip.

FIG. 5 illustrates an isometric view of a shipping clip according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a front cross-sectional view of a shipping clipsecuring a plurality of shelves within a cabinet according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front perspective view of a shipping clip securinga plurality of shelves within a cabinet according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of the components setforth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Theinvention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orbeing carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of“including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant toencompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well asadditional items and equivalents thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 5 illustrates an isometric view of a shipping clip 40 according toan embodiment of the present invention. The shipping clip 40 may beformed of various materials, such as rubber, or plastic. The shippingclip 40 includes a main beam 42 having a cabinet securing post 44extending from a wall-abutting side 46. The cabinet securing post 44 isconfigured to be retained within a securing hole (not shown in FIG. 5)within a cabinet wall (not shown in FIG. 5).

A handle 48 extends from a shelf side 50 (which is opposite thewall-abutting side), and proximate the top of the main beam 42. That is,the handle 48 and the post 44 extend from opposite sides 50 and 46,respectively, of an upper portion of the main beam 42. The handle 48 mayinclude a vertical fin 52 extending outwardly from the side 50. Thevertical fin 52 may be integrally formed with a cylindrical post 54. Thevertical fin 52 and the cylindrical post 54 may be ergonomicallyconfigured to allow easy grasping of the handle 48. For example, thecylindrical post 54 acts as a barrier that prevents fingers from slidingoff the handle 48 in the direction of arrow A.

Proximate a mid-section 55 of the main beam 42, a resilient biasing tab56 extends outwardly from the side 50 at an angle 0. The biasing tab 56includes extension beam 58 integrally formed with a rounded, or bluntedshelf-abutting end 60, that is distally located from the main beam 42.As shown in FIG. 5, the shelf-abutting end 60 is a turned up end of theextension beam 58. The biasing tab 56 may be spring-biased.

A shelf-stabilizing ramp 62 extends from the side 50 of the main beam 42below the biasing tab 56. The ramp 62 includes a lower surface 64 thatextends perpendicularly from the side 50 of the main beam 50. The lowersurface 64 is integrally connected to a ramped surface 66 that extendstoward the midsection 55 of the main beam 42.

The lower portion of the main beam 42 terminates in a shim 68 thatextends below the ramp 62. The shim 68 is configured to be positionedbetween a cabinet wall (not shown in FIG. 5) and lateral portions ofshelves (not shown in FIG. 5).

FIG. 6 illustrates a front cross-sectional view of the shipping clip 40securing a plurality of shelves 70 within a cabinet 72 according to anembodiment of the present invention. The shelves 70 are positioned ontop of a base 74 of the cabinet 72. As shown in FIG. 6, two shelves 70are stacked on top of the base 74.

The shipping clip 40 is secured into the cabinet wall 76. That is, thepost 44 is secured within a reciprocal opening 78 formed in the cabinetwall 76.

The shim 68 of the shipping clip 40 is positioned between the shelves 70and the cabinet wall 76. The shim 68 provides a barrier between theshelves 70 and the cabinet wall 76 that prevents lateral shifting of theshelves 70 within the cabinet 72. Thus, the shelves 70 and cabinet walls76 are protected against scratching or other damage that may be causedby the shelves 70 banging into the cabinet walls 76 during shipping.

The lower surface 64 of the ramp 62 is positioned over a top edge of thetop shelf 70, while the shim 68 may overlay a lateral surface of the topshelf 70. The ramp 62 and the shim 68 may cooperate to secure theshelves 70 from vertical and lateral shifting.

The shelf-abutting end 60 of the biasing clip 56 exerts a force into thetop surface of the top shelf 70. The force exerted by the biasing clip56 into the top shelf compresses the shelves 70 into the base 74 of thecabinet, thereby restricting movement of the shelves 70.

As shown in FIG. 6, the shipping clip 40, or a plurality of shippingclips 40, may be used to secure a plurality of shelves 70 within thecabinet 72 during shipping. For example, two or four shipping clips 40may be used to secure a plurality of shelves 70 within the cabinet 72.While two shelves 70 are shown in FIG. 6, the shipping clip 40 may beconfigured to secure more or less shelves 70 than those shown. Also,shelf pins do not have to be used in order to secure the shelves 70.Optionally, shelf pins may be used to secure the shelves away from thebase 74.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front perspective view of the shipping clips 40securing a plurality of shelves 70 within the cabinet 72 according to anembodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the shelves 70are supported by a plurality of shelf pins 80. The shelves 70 aresecurely retained between the shelf pins 80 and the shipping clips 40.While four shelves 70 are shown secured between the shelf pins 80 andthe shipping clips 40, the shipping clips 40 may be configured to securemore or less shelves 70 than those shown within the cabinet 72 duringshipping.

Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide a shipping clipcapable of securing a plurality of shelves during shipping. As shown inFIG. 6, a plurality of shipping clips may be used to secure a pluralityof shelves against a base of a cabinet. For example; four horizontallyaligned shipping clips may be used to secure a plurality of shelveswithin the cabinet. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a plurality shelves maybe secured between a plurality of shipping clips and a plurality ofshelf pins. For example, four horizontally-aligned shipping clips andfour coplanar shelf pins may be used to secure a plurality of shelvestherebetween.

Additionally, embodiments of the present invention provide a shippingclip that prevents shelves from banging into the cabinet walls duringshipping. The shims and ramps of the shipping clips act as barriers thatminimize the shelves from shifting during shipping.

While various spatial terms, such as upper, lower, mid, lateral,horizontal, vertical, and the like are used to describe portions of theshipping clip with respect to a cabinet, it is understood that suchterms are merely used with respect to the orientations shown in thedrawings. The orientations may be inverted, rotated, or otherwisechanged, such that an upper portion is a lower portion, and vice versa,horizontal becomes vertical, and the like.

Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope ofthe present invention. It is understood that the invention disclosed anddefined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more ofthe individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/ordrawings. All of these different combinations constitute variousalternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments describedherein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention andwill enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. Theclaims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to theextent permitted by the prior art.

Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

1. A shipping clip configured to secure at least one shelf within acabinet having walls and a base, the shipping clip comprising: a mainbeam having first and second sides; and a biasing tab outwardlyextending from said first side, wherein said biasing tab is configuredto exert a force into the at least one shelf to compressively secure theat least one shelf within the cabinet during shipping.
 2. The shippingclip of claim 1, wherein said biasing tab is spring-biased.
 3. Theshipping clip of claim 1, wherein said biasing tab comprises anextension tab integrally connected to a blunted shelf-abutting end,wherein said blunted shelf-abutting end is configured to abut against atop surface of the at least one shelf.
 4. The shipping clip of claim 1,further comprising a cabinet securing post extending from said secondside, wherein said cabinet securing post is configured to be retainedwithin a reciprocal opening formed in at least one of the walls of thecabinet.
 5. The shipping clip of claim 1, further comprising a graspinghandle extending from said first side, wherein said grasping handlecomprises a fin extending from said first side, and a cylindrical postintegrally connected to said fin.
 6. The shipping clip of claim 1,further comprising a shelf-stabilizing ramp extending from said firstside, wherein said shelf-stabilizing ramp is configured to abut againsta top surface of the at least one shelf.
 7. The shipping clip of claim1, wherein said main beam further comprises a shim configured to bepositioned between the at least one shelf and at least one of the wallsof the cabinet, said shim configured to prevent lateral shifting of theat least one shelf within the cabinet.
 8. The shipping clip of claim 1,wherein the at least one shelf comprises a plurality of shelves.
 9. Theshipping clip of claim 1, wherein the shipping clip is configured tosecurely retain the at least one shelf against the base of the cabinet.10. A shipping clip configured to secure at least one shelf within acabinet having walls and a base, the shipping clip comprising: a beamhaving a shelf side and a cabinet-abutting side; and a resilient biasingtab outwardly extending proximate a mid-section of said shelf side at anangle, wherein said biasing tab is configured to exert a force into theat least one shelf to compressively secure the at least one shelf withinthe cabinet during shipping.
 11. The shipping clip of claim 10, whereinsaid biasing tab is spring-biased.
 12. The shipping clip of claim 10,wherein said biasing tab comprises an extension tab integrally connectedto a blunted shelf-abutting end, wherein said blunted shelf-abutting endis configured to abut against a top surface of the at least one shelf.13. The shipping clip of claim 10, further comprising a cabinet securingpost extending from said cabinet-abutting side, wherein said cabinetsecuring post is configured to be retained within a reciprocal openingformed in at least one of the walls of the cabinet.
 14. The shippingclip of claim 10, further comprising a grasping handle extending from anupper portion of said shelf side, wherein said grasping handle comprisesa fin extending from said shelf side, and a cylindrical post integrallyconnected to said fin.
 15. The shipping clip of claim 10, furthercomprising a shelf-stabilizing ramp extending from said shelf side belowsaid biasing tab, wherein said shelf-stabilizing ramp is configured toabut against a top surface of the at least one shelf.
 16. The shippingclip of claim 10, wherein said beam further comprises a shim configuredto be positioned between the at least one shelf and at least one of thewalls of the cabinet, said shim configured to prevent lateral shiftingof the at least one shelf within the cabinet.
 17. The shipping clip ofclaim 10, wherein the at least one shelf comprises a plurality ofshelves.
 18. The shipping clip of claim 10, wherein the shipping clip isconfigured to securely retain the at least one shelf against the base ofthe cabinet.
 19. A shipping clip configured to secure at least one shelfwithin a cabinet having walls and a base, the shipping clip comprising:a beam having a shelf side, a cabinet-abutting side, and a shimconfigured to be positioned between the at least one shelf and at leastone of the walls of the cabinet, said shim configured to prevent lateralshifting of the at least one shelf within the cabinet; a cabinetsecuring post extending from said cabinet-abutting side, wherein saidcabinet securing post is configured to be retained within a reciprocalopening formed in at least one of the walls of the cabinet; a graspinghandle extending from an upper portion of said shelf side, wherein saidgrasping handle comprises a fin extending from said shelf side, and acylindrical post integrally connected to said fin; a resilient biasingtab outwardly extending proximate a mid-section of said shelf side at anangle, wherein said biasing tab is configured to exert a force into theat least one shelf to compressively secure the at least one shelf withinthe cabinet during shipping, said biasing tab comprising an extensiontab integrally connected to a blunted shelf-abutting end, wherein saidblunted shelf-abutting end is configured to abut against a top surfaceof the at least one shelf; and a shelf-stabilizing ramp extending fromsaid shelf side below said biasing tab, wherein said shelf-stabilizingramp is configured to abut against a top surface of the at least oneshelf.
 20. The shipping clip of claim 10, wherein the at least one shelfcomprises a plurality of shelves, and wherein the shipping clip isconfigured to securely retain the at least one shelf against the base ofthe cabinet.